Wildfires in North and South Carolina fueled by drought, wind and fallen trees from Hurricane Helene
Associated PressMAR 25
Hurricane Helene Debris Fueling Carolina Wildfires
Above: Firefighters battle a wildfire in Tryon, North Carolina, on March 3, 2025. Image copyright: Photo by Peter Zay/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Climate activist narrative
The inferno blazing across southern Appalachia offers a stark glimpse into the future of the region, as climate change has exacerbated and will continue to exacerbate the risk of wildfires through rising temperatures and more extreme weather events. Urgent action — cutting CO2 emissions and transitioning to a green economy — is essential to prevent worsening devastation.
Climate-skeptic narrative
The Carolinas have always had wildfires and always will. The argument that the recent fires are a new phenomenon caused by global climate change wilfully ignores that this has always been a persistent feature of the region, with the largest official wildfire on record taking place in 1976, 49 years ago.